Southern Arkansas University Athletics

The fact that he did not receive a scholarship to compete collegiately certainly did not deter the late multi-sport Mulerider great Wayne Freppon. The Bald Knob, Arkansas, product walked on to legendary head coach Auburn Smith's Mulerider Football team in 1958 where he would earn a scholarship and proceed to become a two-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference selection as a defensive back in 1959 and 1961.
 
As was often the case in that departed gridiron era of grit and toughness, Freppon played on both sides of the football as he served as a fullback for Smith's offensive attack. Freppon teamed up with the likes of fellow SAU Sports Hall of Famers David Alpe, Jerry Camp, Danny Greenfield, Don Henson, Dr. Larry McNeal, Calvin Neal, James Pettitt, Ken Schmidt, and James "Sonny" Whittington.
 
But his exploits on the gridiron, which saw Freppon along with his brother Jerry help Smith's program capture 19 wins, were just the beginning for the athletic Arkansan. He played baseball in 1961 and 1962, was a member of the 1960-61 and 1961-62 Mulerider Basketball teams, and also competed in track & field during his time at Southern State College.
 
Following his graduation from SSC in which he earned a physical education degree, Freppon moved into coaching. He spent forty years as an educator, coach and administrator serving the school districts of Smackover, DeQueen, Katy, Texas, Dierks, Fordyce and Hope before his retirement in 2002.
 
At Smackover, he served as an assistant football coach and the head basketball coach for the Buckaroos for six years, before taking over as head football coach at DeQueen where he would twice coach in the AAA East-West All-Star Game, while also earning Class 7A Coach of the Year honors.
 
Once retired from coaching, Freppon's administrative career began and after 14 years at DeQueen he moved to the Lone Star State where he briefly served Katy ISD's Taylor High School, before moving back to Arkansas to finish up an exceptional career at Dierks, Fordyce and Hope High Schools.